What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer is Everyone’s Business!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so here's important information for both women and men from UIC Pharmacy.

About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in US women.  According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in 2011.  The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown, but several factors have been linked with changes that cause normal breast cells to become cancer cells.  Some of these risk factors include:

·       Being female.

·       Older age.

·       BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations.

·       Family history of breast cancer.

·       High breast density (less fat tissue in the breast).

·       History of radiation therapy.

Other possible risk factors include race or ethnic background, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.  For example, more Caucasian women get breast cancer than African American women.  Use of birth control pills and getting your first period at an age younger than 12 years both slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.  Talk to your doctor about possible risk factors you may have and things you can do to decrease your risk.

To learn more about risk factors and the strength of the scientific evidence for each factor, go to:

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BreastCancerRiskFactorsTable.html

For a list of questions you can ask your doctor about breast cancer, go to:

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/QuestionstoAsktheDoctorPDFDownloads.html

Breast Cancer in Younger Women

Although older women have a higher risk of breast cancer and make up most of the patients with breast cancer, younger women may also be at risk.  Of the 70,000 patients aged 15 to 39 years who are diagnosed with cancer each year, 15% have breast cancer.  Breast cancer  in younger patients tends to be more aggressive than in older women.  The most common cause of cancer-related death in women aged 15 to 54 years is breast cancer.  Rates of breast cancer in African American women under the age of 35 are twice the rate in Caucasian women of the same age. 

To learn more about breast cancer in younger women, go to:

http://www.youngsurvival.org/breast-cancer-in-young-women/learn/statistics-and-disparities/

Breast Cancer in Men

Although rare (less than 1% of all breast cancer cases), men can get breast cancer.  An estimated 2,140 men in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in 2011.  Most cases of breast cancer in men are found in patients aged 60 to 70 years.  Risk factors and survival rates are similar in men and women, but breast cancer in men is usually more advanced at diagnosis, possibly because screening in men is less common.

To find out more breast cancer in men, go to:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malebreast/patient

What are Warning Signs for Breast Cancer?

The most common warning signs are changes in the look or feel of your breast or nipple and nipple discharge.  It is important to know how your breasts look and feel normally so that you can recognize any changes.  Normal breasts can be lumpy.  If lumps are felt throughout both sides of the breast, they are most likely normal breast tissue.  Lumps that are hard or feel different from the rest of the breast tissue need to be checked by a healthcare provider.  Nipple discharge may occur for reasons other than cancer (such as infection), and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider in all cases.

To learn more about warning signs for breast cancer, go to:

http://ww5.komen.org/Content.aspx?id=5236&terms=symptoms

What are the Current Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening?

Currently, a mammogram is the most effective and reliable diagnostic tool for breast cancer.  Self-exams and breast exams performed by a doctor have not been shown to reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer; however, not all cancer cells can be found through mammograms.  Therefore, the combination of regular self-exams, breast exams performed by a doctor, and mammograms is the best option for screening.

Visit this website to learn how to perform a breast self-exam: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/DownloadBSECards.html

Current recommendations for mammography for average risk women differ among organizations, but screening should generally start at age 40 and be repeated every 1 to 2 years.  Breast exams performed by a doctor in average risk women should start at age 20 and be repeated every 3 years until age 40, then every year after age 40.  The State of Illinois offers free mammograms, breast exams, and other screening tests to eligible women. 

To find out more about free breast cancer screening in Illinois, go to:

http://cancerscreening.illinois.gov/index.htm

For breast cancer screening resources in other states, go to:

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/cancercontacts/nbccedp/contacts.asp

Choices to consider

Maintaining a healthy weight through exercise and diet and limiting alcohol consumption to less than one drink per day can lower your risk for breast cancer.  Choosing whole grain foods, eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and eating less meat are also healthy lifestyle choices that can lower your chances of getting breast cancer.  Your doctor may be able to suggest other lifestyle changes that you can make based on your specific breast cancer risk factors.

Get Involved: Things You Can Do About Breast Cancer Right Now

·       Send an E-card to people you care about to raise awareness about mammograms.

http://www2c.cdc.gov/ecards/message/message.asp?cardid=198

·       Post links about breast cancer awareness on your Facebook or Twitter page.

·       Become a friend of the Susan G. Komen Breast cancer Foundation on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/susangkomenforthecure?ecid=vanityurl%3A8

·       Find local events and ways to help people with cancer through the American Cancer Society.

http://www.cancer.org/InYourArea/index

Soojin Jun

Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate 2013

UIC College of Pharmacy